High scoring defenceman Andrew Hotham has signed for Cardiff Devils to complete their six-man unit on defence,

Elite League Devils will have four ice imports, plus British D-men Mark Richardson and Josh Batch operating from the blue line in the new season.

Head coach Andrew Lord now needs only one more import to complete his 12-strong overseas line-up and that will be a top line forward, while he may yet increase his British contingent.

New recruit Hotham, 27, is a highly skilled player who was a three-time all-star most valuable player plus defenceman of the year in the Canadian Universities league.

He played a key role in helping St Mary’s to the University Cup four years ago and was named series MVP

Hotham finished his final year of college in the American League where he scored two points in six matches for Rochester Americans, while in his first full professional season with East Coast League Wheeling Nailers he was named in the All-Rookie Team after amassing 47 points in 56 games with another two American League call-ups.

After another high-scoring season split between East Coast (30 matches) and American League (30) Hotham moved to the prestigious German DEL where he put up an impressive 13 points in 29 games for Dusseldorf.

Hockey runs in Hotham’s blood as his father Greg is a former NHL defenceman for Toronto and Pittsburgh, while older brother Scott currently plays in Austria.

Lord was delighted at the capture of Hotham, saying: “He has he has all the tools to be one of the top defencemen in the Elite League with superb vision and patience which allows him to read the game really well and make plays under pressure.

“He will be a huge force in creating transition from defence to offense and also on the powerplay where he has excelled in a leading role on his previous teams.

“Andrew is also a great teammate with the right character to fit in with our team.

“I had many recommendations from ex-teammates and coaches on what a great player and person he is. This is an amazing way to round off our D corps and I could not be happier with the group we have assembled back there.”